- 2025 Franchise 500 Rank
-
#432 Not ranked last year
- Initial investment
-
$324K - $14.4M
- Units as of 2025
-
79 3% over 3 years
Camp Jellystone is a family-friendly camping franchise, (formerly Yogi Bear's Jellystone Camp-Resorts,) that is one of the nation's top family resorts. Established in 1969, Camp Jellystone began franchising that same year. Since then, it has opened over 75 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Visitors to Camp Jellystone can rent out cabins, RV, or tent spaces, have fun at any of the water attractions, and take advantage of a number of the resort's amenities, from mini-golf to playgrounds. You also should not forget about Yogi Bear and the crew themselves. The Bears and Ranger Smith are bound to make an appearance.
Why You May Want to Start a Camp Jellystone
Camp Jellystone has been catering to families for over 50 years, making them a leader in family camping experiences. Plus, what other camps can call the famous cartoon character Yogi Bear their mascot?
What Might Make a Camp Jellystone a Good Choice?
If you decide to join a Real Estate Investment Trust, you'll receive specialized training, unique Yogi Bear merchandise, online reservation systems, and more. To be part of the Camp Jellystone team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment. You should also prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include advertising fees and royalty fees. Franchisees may also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.
Camp Jellystone offers ancillary revenue streams through food service and retail. Because the average stay is about three days, food service is critical. A camp will have at least one snack bar or restaurant. Some popular choices are Nathan's Hot Dogs or Hunt Brothers Pizza.
How To Start a Camp Jellystone Franchise
The easiest way to join the Camp Jellystone franchise is to convert your existing campground. This is the perfect option for campsite owners who find sales flatlining, want to expand campsite services beyond rentals, or need to create a unique campground that will stand out from the competition. A park conversion usually takes a few months to complete. The process includes a walkthrough of your existing campsite and corporate approval. You'll then create a vision and business plan and develop a conversion timeline.
If you want to purchase an existing campground, the site will need to meet certain requirements outlined by the company. Or, if you choose to build from the ground up, you may have additional financial requirements. To build from the ground up, you may need to contact the director of franchise sales and development to see if your plan is doable, fill out a new build franchise request form, submit a five-year business plan, and provide proof of funding.
If you do join the Camp Jellystone family, you'll soon be giving families a vacation to remember.
Company Overview
About Camp Jellystone
| Industry | Lodging |
|---|---|
| Related Categories | Campgrounds, Recreation |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Parent Company | Camp Jellystone |
| Leadership | Rob Schutter, President |
| Corporate Address |
27777 Franklin Rd., #300 Southfield, MI 48034 |
| Social | Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok |
Business Overview
| Franchising Since | 1969 (56 years) |
|---|---|
| # of employees at HQ | 23 |
| Where seeking |
This company is offering new franchises throughout the US. This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: Canada, Mexico |
| # of Units | 79 (as of 2025) |
|
|
|
Information for Franchisees
Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Camp Jellystone franchise.
Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees
Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.
|
Initial Franchise Fee
|
$75,000 |
|---|---|
|
Initial Investment
|
$324,000 - $14,370,000 |
|
Royalty Fee
|
4.5%-6% |
|
Ad Royalty Fee
|
2% |
|
Term of Agreement
|
7 years |
| Is franchise term renewable? | Yes |
Financing Options
Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.
| Third Party Financing | Camp Jellystone has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, accounts receivable, payroll |
|---|
Training & Support Offered
Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.
| On-The-Job Training | 20 hours |
|---|---|
| Classroom Training | 34 hours |
| Ongoing Support |
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
|
| Marketing Support |
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App
|
Operations
Additional details about running this franchise.
| Is absentee ownership allowed? | No |
|---|---|
|
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
|
No |
|
Can this franchise be run part time?
|
No |
|
Are exclusive territories available?
|
Yes |
Franchise 500 Ranking History
Compare where Camp Jellystone landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.
Additional Rankings
Curious to know where Camp Jellystone ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.
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